WEST WHITTIER – There are a few things that stand out in parent Cathy Martinez’s mind when she recalls the trip to Washington, D.C. she helped organize last year for Los Nietos Middle School eighth-graders.

“We were in the bus, driving on the freeway, and one kid said, `Hey, I haven’t seen any graffiti,”‘ Martinez said. “And then the bus driver spoke up and said, `What’s graffiti?”‘

“He didn’t even know what it was!” Martinez said, laughing. “The environment over there is so different, but our kids took it all in and it was a great experience.”

That’s why Martinez, a former Los Nietos School District board member, has again taken on the task of organizing the eighth-grade trip again this year, though none of her children will be involved.

This year, however, the planning got started early enough to include a foray into New York as well, where 29 students will attend a performance of “Beauty & the Beast” on Broadway.

All they need now is another $11,000 to make it happen.

Total cost of the six-day trip is $48,575, or $1,675 per student, Martinez said. The students have held 10 fundraisers this year, including a D.C. Kids festival sponsored by Los Nietos board member Nicholas Aquino last weekend that featured an appearance by U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood.

So far, parents and students have raised about $37,000 for the trip – that includes donations from Los Nietos board member Art Escobedo, former Cerritos City Councilwoman Grace Hu and the city of Santa Fe Springs.

But there are only a few more days left before all the money has to be turned in, so organizers are again appealing to the community to help get the students to Washington, D.C.

“The fact is, I would say all of the parents don’t have the money to send their kids on a trip like this, but they’ve been willing to do the fundraising,” Martinez said.

“I have six kids that did full fundraising to pay for their trip, and now mom and dad have nothing to put in,” she added. “And I told the kids on Saturday that they need to go home and thank mom and dad for putting in the time and allowing them to go.”

The trip will take place over the Memorial Day weekend. Those interested in donating should call Martinez at (562) 463-7775.